Empire+A+Barriers


 * BARRIERS DISCUSSION**


 * Please list the results of your facilitated discussion on barriers and restraints to managing change and shift in schools.**
 * What is preventing them from being successful at implementing change?**

Barriers:

Teachers say “It’s worked this way for years – why change?” No time for this – one more thing – not enough blocks of time. I am content and standardized test-driven – can’t do it. How can we do projects in such small blocks of time - 42 minutes. Amount of tech available – not enough – must be shared. Bandwidth issues Privacy issues Each case can be individual – we try to do ‘one-size fits all.’ Video conferencing issues – matching up times. how to show them how to hit several standards in one lesson Brand new admin team – new initiatives, new leaders have different ideas Overwhelmed with so many things Turn-over rates low – so traditional teachers aren’t moving out. Understanding PBL and getting PD time is limited. Too many things on their plate. PBL takes time – out of their comfort zone. Teachers have reached saturation point – no follow through. Teachers are just surviving right now. Only verbal support from Admin – not giving time to learn. Not quick to change at lower levels. Providing time and space to learn. One and done PD. No modeling. Expect you change when they don’t model it in PD. Something happens / blows up – they retreat back to old ways. Lack of engagement of students. Hopelessness of ‘sit and git.’ Engagement isn’t the top priority – this is not top priority. Putting out fires instead of moving forward. In Corrective action – they have other worries. Student culture – not engaged in lower levels, then they turn off in higher. Students want to just know what they need to get the grade. Sharing of equipment is very tough. PBL is not the focus. Curriculum is very scripted – teachers feel they cannot be creative. Shortened periods. Tech for tech’s sake. Filters are blocking everything! New coaches gaining trust. Tech is considered “dark side.” Teachers buy in, but kids are filtered, teachers filtered. Admin focused on tools – not pedagogy behind it. Facilitators are not always welcome. Admin is confused – wrong people on the bus. Students won’t offer up what they are interested in. Admin needs to get on board with big picture thinking. Don’t share ideas – not flexible. Don’t share outside. Admin gets the ‘toys’ but no one else. Not enough equipment – not sustainable to replace tech. School board mindsets – they don’t get the big picture. Info is shoved down throats – now they have to be creative – tough change!


 * Back to Empire A Mini-Mission 2**